MOUNTAIN VIEW -- Crisis negotiators talked an armed and mentally distraught man into surrendering early Sunday morning after he allegedly beat up his girlfriend and barricaded himself in his apartment.

According to Mountain View police, the girlfriend of Richard Johnson, a 50-year-old city resident, had escaped from his apartment and called police following what she described as a late-night beating. Police said Johnson possessed a shotgun when they arrived at the Alice Avenue apartment about 3:24 a.m.

Police said responding officers evacuated the area and tried to get Johnson to give himself up, but he refused. The officers then called the Mountain View/Los Altos Regional SWAT and crisis negotiation teams. The crisis negotiators were able to reach Johnson by telephone and succeeded in talking him into surrendering peacefully about 10:30 a.m., ending a seven-hour standoff.

Police said they took Johnson into custody for battery against his 47-year-old girlfriend, whom they did not identify. Investigators continue to work the case.